Box hole closure



Sept. 19, 1950 M. D. BERGAN 2,522,741

BOX HOLE CLOSURE Filed Dec. 8, 1945 INVENTOR MAR-Fl N D. BEREAN BY 2WMQQATTORNEY Patented Sept. 19, 1950 BOX HQLE CLOSURE Martin Bergan,Westfield, N. J., assignor to The Thomas & Betts 00., Elizabeth, N. .L,a. corporation of New Jersey Application December 8, 1945, Serial No.633,588

The invention relates to a device capable of functioning as a closurefor an aperture in the wall of electric equipment, such as cabinets,junction boxes and the like. 1

The primary object of the invention is to provide an aperture closure ofthe least possible amount of material; preferably of thin sheet metal,which will effectively seal and close the aperture.

The requirement to use the least amount of metal in the closure Suggeststhe use of extremely thin sheet metal stock of the character which is sothin that it must be corrugated or embossed to supply the necessarystructural strength and resistance to distortion, and at the same timeto provide sufficient elasticity in its peripheral edge portions so asto be free to distort itself automatically and sufficiently to conformto any out of plane irregularities in the portion of-the Wall outliningthe aperture to which it is applied.

The invention also contemplates the assembling of the thin embossedsheet metal closures in pairs clamping the wall therebetween andarranging them in such abutting relation that they will mutuallyreinforce one another.

Broadly this aspect of the invention is obtained by providing identicalthin preformed plates or discs, radially embossed and with the bosses ofeach plate spaced apart, and locating the embossments from one platenested in the spaces formed between the embossments of the other plateand incidentally utilizing both sets of embossments collectively so thatwhen so internested they coact to center the assembly of two discs inits associated wall aperture.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in partobvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part willbe more fully set forth in the following par" ticular description of oneform of device embodying the invention, and the invention also consistsin certain new and novel features of construction and combination ofparts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of one side of a closure disc constituting a preferredembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side or edge elevation of the same, looking at thedisc from the right side and from the plane marked 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the reverse side of the disc shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on 1 Claim. (01. 220-) theline 4-4 of Fig. 1 and across a diameter of 55 the disc; in"

. 2 Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of two of the discs shown in Fig. 1with their centers punched out and thus enlarged to form a pair ofmounting washers; and showing in full and dash lines the relative arranements of the embossments in relatively nested arrangement ready toreceive a cable or conduit intruded or introduced into the aligned andenlarged center openings; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View such as would be shown on the line6-6 of. Fig. 4 of the two nested discs of Fig. 1 when forming a. closureand before having their centers enlarged as in Fig. 5.

In the drawings there is disclosed a junction box of conventionaldesignrepresented by one of its upstanding walls I! and with one or moreof the usual circular blanks outlined by one, or by a pluralityofconcentric weakened lines arranged so that by selectively punching thearea defined by one of the weakened lines an aperture M of the desireddiameter may he had, all as is well known in the prior art.

Referring to the complete closure l9, it is seen that it is made up oftwo identical closure discs 2c and 2! secured together at their centersbya readily separabl connector specifically shown as a short bolt. 22and nut 2'3. passed through the two bolt holes 24 which are initiallyformed of small diameter at the center of each ticularly shown in Figs.1, 3 and 4.

As the closure discs are identical, the description of one will fit theother. Each disc is simply a stamping of relatively th n sheet metal,preferably steel, having such a degree of flexibility and spring as willpermit its per meter or outlining flat ring-like edge portion 25 toconform to and snugly fit the portion 26 0f the wall outlining theaperture 14 even in those cases where imperfection in manufacture orsubse uent warping of the wall H forces the wall portions 26 out of atrue plane.

Each disc is provided with a plurality, in this case shown to be four,pan-like segmental embossments or bosses 27 arranged to give strength towhat otherwise would be a too frail form of closure disc. The bosses areeach of segmental form with rounded corners and d s osed radially, andwith their axis circumferentially placed apart de rees, and with theblank spaces 28 therebetween of slightly greater arc length than thebosses simi arly measured in order to permit the nesting of the bossesone between the other two as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The outer rims or edges 29 of the bosses are equidistantly spaced apartand form arcs of a circle whose diameter is substantially the same discas parof the Wall and the other disc is located on'th'e opposite side ofthe wall, incidentally being reenatered by their rims 29 fitted in theaperture M: A and the bolt 22 is passed loosely through the? bolt holes24 so aligned by reasonof the center. ing of the discs. The discs arerelatively rotated, if necessary, until the bosses 2'! on ons. disc arenested into tharspaces 28 of the other disc asindicated by the fullvand. dotteddine' arrangement shown. in .Fig=.- 5, and as ishownsin.section. Fig. 6 In I the case-of. the. four. .einbossments in.:eachdisc, the alternate.- embossments are 4.5 .degreesapart as.indicated in Fig... 5...

Thenut 23 isthentig-htened .to draw thediscs together at-.their'.centers andthuscause .the. perimeters .or .edg-e.--portions..25. -to-bear firmly and resiliently on. the. outliningwall portion. 26'

with whatever incidental spring of..the discs. as.

maybe. imposed .the-reon by the. portion. 26 of. the walL.

In Figs. 1 and 3 there is shown a series of can? centriclines.30.-spaced apart equidistantly. and which may beconsidered asdefiningthe. perim' eters of. .the. punched. out areas to -..p1:ovidethe requisite size. of. openings desired lforany,particula1:.situation-...' The opening 24' of. Fig. .5 .for instance.-.was'. formedv .by punching. out the .ma-. terialof. the. disc-zalongeone of .the intermediate.- lines .36 .ot..Figs. l and 3.. While..the lines -30 as shown have no physical existence on..the discs,

it. is. .suggestedthatthe. lines .30 be fine grooves outliningweakenedportions. to facilitate punchingirom. the. closure. discsthenecessary amount. of. materialto fomnthe enlarged openings 24 so thatin..such cases. the-original closure discs 20' and 2.1. become.mounting. washers with; any size opening. 24 within the. dimension ofthe-stock disc used.

I .claim:

A .wall provided with. an opening of circular 4 outline, a pair ofidentical discs for closing the opening, one disc disposed on one sideand the other on the opposite side of the wall, each of said discsprovided with the same number of raised bosses arranged radially andcircumferentially spaced apart distances at least equal to theircircumferential dimensiom'the a'bosses of each disc projecting towardseach otlier, fitting into the spaces formed by the bosses of the ldrlother disc and coacting to form a substantially closed circle ofbosses, the outer edges of the bosses forming parts of the same circlehaving aradius substantiallyequal to that of the opening whereby'thebosses of each disc coact to center *its associated disc in the openingand bolt-like.--means.:passing through the discs at the centers thereofand operating to secure the discs in their positions centered in theopening with the wall clamped ibetween the peripheral portions: of thetwo discs which lie externally ofxfthe associated bosses and each. ofsaididiscs": beingfsolid between :its periphery and the abolte likemeans at its center. MARTIN D. BER-GAN:

REFERENCES CITED The following references' are -'of' record infith" fileof this patent:

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